Imperial Hunting Grounds
It was time for the annual Autumn Hunt.
All the men present, whether princes or officials' sons, were eager to try their hands.
The Sixth Prince looked up.
Ahead, Xiao Yu had changed into sleek riding clothes that made him look even more striking. The moment he appeared, he drew every eye.
Contempt and disdain flashed in the Sixth Prince's eyes.
He took the reins and rode over to Xiao Yu, his nose in the air. "I hear you're getting kicked out of the Eastern Palace after the Autumn Hunt?"
Xiao Yu cast him a cool sideways glance.
"Are you speaking to me?" he asked, a hint of authority in his voice.
The Sixth Prince's expression cracked.
He tightened his grip on the reins, concealed the resentment in his eyes, and raised his hands in a perfunctory salute. "Greetings, youngest imperial uncle."
As though he had not noticed the boy's reluctance, Xiao Yu said casually, "Oh, it's Little Six."
The corner of the Sixth Prince's eye twitched.
"Please don't call me that, Uncle," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm fourteen already!"
"Fourteen, are you?" Xiao Yu said lightly. "Shall I call you Old Six from now on, then?"
The Sixth Prince: "..."
Seeing his sour expression, Shen Zhijie hurried forward from behind Xiao Yu. "Your subject, Shen Zhijie, greets Your Highness."
The Sixth Prince turned a contemptuous gaze on Shen Zhijie. "For the deputy minister of the Court of Judicial Review, you certainly stick close to my uncle."
Shen Zhijie paused briefly, then replied openly, "I merely happened to run into Prince Yu."
"What's this, Old Six? Planning to go tattling to my imperial brother again?"
"You really are still a brat!"
Xiao Yu glanced at him. "Zhijie and I aren't forming any factions. We're simply both